You may often wonder why there’s so much stress on obtaining health insurance in most study abroad countries. Let me tell you why! Your good health is your asset, but sometimes there are unforeseen health issues that could be as trivial as diet complications or something as serious as an unexpected accident. As an independent student with many responsibilities on your head, you should be aware of the fact that your medical bills could be expensive and you do not want to be financially burdened, especially when you’re away from home! That’s where your health insurance acts like a superhero and saves the day! Are you now curious to know more? Here’s everything you need to know about health insurance for international students from its importance to the cost and the benefits derived out of it.
You may take extra measures by practicing exercises to stay fit in your uni and that’s a great start! But do exercises cover your medical bills? I doubt it! Does student health insurance cover your medical bills? Most definitely!
FAQ 1: What Does A Health Insurance Abroad Cover?
Sudden doctor visits, lab orders, emergency surgeries, dental care reliefs are few of the basic services that a comprehensive health insurance for international students ideally covers. Make sure that your medical insurance coverage is inclusive of the following:
- Out-patient medical treatment: Medical care for when you’re not hospitalized. Things like a visit to the general physician and walk-in clinics.
- In-patient medical treatment: Medical care for when you’re hospitalized. Things such as a hospital room, ICU, anaesthesia, surgery
- Prescription medication
- X-rays and lab work
- Emergency medical evacuation. In case you get ill, and you need to receive medical attention in your own country or somewhere else abroad, you will be covered for any resulting costs
- Dental emergencies, such as a broken tooth
International health insurance for students studying abroad are offered by universities as well as private insurance companies, each having their set of plans. Depending on the type of plan, you can opt for a medical coverage inclusive of injuries, non-emergency check-ups, pre-existing medical conditions, maternity, local ambulances, and mental health.
FAQ 2: When Should I Get Health Insurance?
Health insurance for international students can be procured either before travel or after arrival to your respective student cities. Even though you may have the flexibility to choose a plan after arrival; I’d suggest you do it as soon as you can. You can get medical insurance sitting at home by applying online to an international insurance company before you depart. If you find it more convenient to get it done once you reach, you can subscribe to one of the local insurance companies there or the insurance plan offered by your university.
FAQ 3: How Much Is Health Insurance For International Students?
When you start looking for health insurance for international students, do not choose the cheapest policy; you will land up being underinsured and during emergencies, it will cost you more! The graph below is a result of a survey conducted by The Commonwealth Fund in 2020, which shows a significant difference between –
- Those who were adequately insured all year
- Those who were insured but not adequately, in short, underinsured
- Those who were uninsured
Source: The Commonwealth Fund
Half of the respondents who spent any time uninsured and those who were underinsured reported problems paying medical bills or said they were paying off medical debt over time. While medical bills can be really expensive such that you may end up changing ways of life in order to repay the bills (as seen in the above chart); buying health insurance for international students can range from $500 to $1,000 a year approximately. The amount however differs from company to company and largely varies based on the following factors:
- The period of your study
- How much coverage you want; whether you want additional services or not
- Adding dependents scales up the price
FAQ 4: On What Basis Do I Choose Health Insurance For International Students?
You’re obviously looking for choosing the best health insurance plan that covers at least for medical treatment, emergency evacuation, and medication. But, how do you know what’s the best for you? We’ll give you a list of a few things to keep in mind when you’re buying medical insurance.
- Maximum Policy Amount: Find out the policy amount that your insurance company is willing to pay during an emergency or an illness. Also, keep note of the duration of the policy.
- Deductible Amount: During an emergency, you will have to pay a certain amount by yourself before the insurance company covers your bills. The amount you pay is referred to as the deductible amount. Remember that the lower the deductible amount, higher the policy cost.
- Insurance Coverage: As specified earlier, do a thorough research on what your insurance policy covers and how you will benefit out of it while choosing your health insurance for international students.
FAQ 5: What Are PPO Health Insurance Plans?
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans mean that your health insurance company may have a network of ‘preferred’ doctors and specialists where you can receive treatment. With these facilities, instead of having to pay first and then ask for reimbursement, you have the option to bill the company directly for your expenses. It is an added advantage for you to cross-check if your medical insurance has a PPO network or not.
Thank you for reading our blog on Health Insurance For International Students. If you need any further help during your period of stay abroad, these blogs by UniScholars will be of use to you:
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I have done Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts from India and completed my graduation in the year 2022 .I am 22 years old. After graduation, I have done 1 year paid internship from USA .Now, I would like to take occupational experience and learn culinary skills and also do masters in Culinary arts.How can I find the college n best course / country where I can persue studying further